Elton D. Cole

Funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 18, at Stone Funeral Home, Petoskey. Pastor Bill Mindel will officiate. Burial will be in Cross Village Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, at Stone Funeral Home.

Elton was born Oct. 3, 1915, in Petoskey, the son of Guy and Clara (Johnson) Cole. He was raised and attended school in Cross Village and graduated from Harbor Springs High School.

On July 14, 1935, he married Arlene Ward in Petoskey. They enjoyed 64 years of marriage. Together they made their home in Cross Village, where they worked the family farm. Arlene preceded him in death on Sept. 15, 1999.

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Elton's true passion was music, as he was an accomplished musician and loved to perform his music for others. He had a true gift for music and could play at least 15 different instruments. In his younger years throughout the 1940s and 1950s, he played in several dance bands. Over the years, patrons at area restaurants enjoyed his music while they dined. One of his greatest joys was performing with friends for the residents of area nursing homes. He had received special awards from both Emmet County Medical Care Facility and Bortz Health Care.

Elton was truly a wonderful man who was greatly loved and will be missed dearly by his family.

He is survived by his son, Austin (Virginia) Cole, of Petoskey; and his four grandchildren, Brenda Shanley, Sheila (Tom) Urman, Warren Cole and Rita (Brad) Osborn, all of Petoskey; great-grandchildren, Dustin and Garrett Urman, Melissa Shanley, Tyler Cole, Brenna and Ashley Osborn.

The family asks memorial contributions be directed to Emmet County Medical Care Facility or Bortz Health Care.